Abstract
Japanese Pediatric Guideline for the Treatment and Management of Asthma (JPGL) is a rare sample in the world, being specialized for children only. Though it is impossible, and not ideal to set up an uniformalized guideline worldwide because of complicated medical situations in each country, comparison of guidelines is a meaningful way to improve ours furthermore. The mainstay of long-term pharmacological management is inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) unexceptionally, though JPGL has put leukotriene receptor antagonists before ICS for children younger than 2 years. The maximal doses of ICS recommended in each GL have been lowered. There are substantial differences in the pharmacological management of asthma exacerbations. Overseas GLs recommend inhaled anti-cholinergic agents and intravenous Mg, and are reluctant to use theophylline, and do not refer to inhaled isoproterenol at all.
To be simple and easy to follow is a fundamental requisite for GL. We need to show more evident attitudes of evidence-based-medicine. In Japan, we could develop GL of highest level in the world.
